New jail in Northwest Iowa expected to open soon

SIBLEY, Iowa (KUOO) - Construction of a new jail in Osceola County, Iowa, is nearly complete

Sheriff Kevin Wollmuth says they’re down to just some finishing touches.

“They’re still projecting a late August/early September opening or move-in date, and hopefully that holds true. Right now they’re inside painting and installing doors and putting the finishing touches on things,” he said.

Wollmuth says the project was long overdue.

“The thing that’s going to be nice about it is there’s no stairs; everything’s on ground level. That’s going to be a lot safer than what we have right now because we have several stairs that the employees and the inmates have to go up and down and stairs are never good. So this one’s all on the same level. And just the technology purposes, new software programs that come with these things, these new jails, are just fabulous, and it’s going to make things a lot more efficient,” explained Wollmuth.

According to the sheriff, another phase of the project will get underway once construction of the new facility is completed.

“Our current administration offices that we’re in right now, they’re going to have a little bit of remodeling done to them, but yeah, we’re going to stay in our current administrative building,” Wollmuth Said. “But the old house part, where the old jail is at, that’s going to be torn down.”

He said that space will be converted to parking for the courthouse. Wollmuth says they plan to hold an open house once the project is complete. That could happen in late August or early September.

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